Most problems can be prevented or minimized by wiping up any spills immediately. We have provided some common first aid procedures for spot cleaning and touch-up/repair of your Bruce Dura-Satin wax finish floor. When removing a spot, always begin at the outer edge and work towards the center to prevent the spot from spreading. Keep a Bruce Touch-Up Kit which blends with your factory-stained floors available. This kit contains all the materials you will need to handle most of the accidents listed here.

Repair Tips on Dura-Satin Wax Finish Floors

Spots Caused by Food or Water

Rub lightly with a Bruce Scrub Pad dampened with either Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural. If this does not remove the spot, repeat the process with Clean 'n' Strip. Wipe dry and rub on a little wax. Then buff with a clean cloth, or the dry end of a Bruce Scrub Pad.

Dark (Animal) Spots

Try the above treatment for spots. If the stain hasn't been there too long, it may come up quickly. If the spot remains, apply household bleach to the spot (or oxalic acid from your druggist); let stand about an hour, rinse with a damp cloth, wipe dry, and smooth with a fine sandpaper. Touch up the spot with a Bruce Touch-Up Marker which will blend with your factory-stained floors. Let the stain dry, then wax and buff with a clean cloth or dry Bruce Scrub Pad. (Protect your hands from the oxalic acid with rubber gloves.)

Greasy Spots

Rub spot with a Bruce Scrub Pad soaked with Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural. If the stain persists, repeat the process using Clean 'n' Strip. Then apply a light coat of Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural. Let dry, then buff with a clean cloth or the dry end of a Bruce Scrub Pad. This remedy works well on lipsticks, crayon, and heel marks.

Ink Spots

Try household bleach or the oxalic acid treatment. Or lightly sand, wipe dry, and retouch with Bruce Touch-Up Marker which will blend with your factory stained floors. Let stain dry, then wax with Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural and buff with a clean cloth, or a dry Bruce Scrub Pad.

Cigarette Burns

If the burn is not too deep. Rub with medium and fine sandpaper. Restain with a Bruce Touch-Up Marker. Let stain dry, then wax with Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural, then buff with a clean cloth. If the burn is rather deep, lightly scrape the burned area with a pen knife to remove charred fibers. Rub area with medium and fine sandpaper, then stain with a Bruce Touch-Up Marker which will blend with your factory-stained floors. Let dry, then wax and buff with a clean cloth or a dry Bruce Scrub Pad.

Chewing Gum, Candle Wax

Apply a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the deposit until it becomes brittle enough to crumble off. Clean 'n' Strip can be helpful in removing stubborn areas. After deposit has been removed from the surface of the floor, re-wax and buff the entire area.

Wax Build-Up

Occasionally, wood floors become unsightly or lose their shine because of successive layers of old wax. To restore their natural beauty, strip old wax away with Clean 'n' Strip. Let dry and re-wax with Dark 'n' Rich or Lite 'n' Natural. Let dry, then buff to desired sheen.

Expansion Cracks and Squeaks

Hardwood floors are affected by two distinct humidity seasons - heating and non-heating. Recognizing that wood floor dimensions will be slightly affected by varying levels of humidity, care should be taken to control humidity levels within the 35-55% range. If humid or damp weather causes a slight expansion in your hardwood floor, the edges of boards may rub together, producing a squeak. For solid oak floors, a liberal amount of liquid wax or tal*** powder between the squeaking boards will usually quiet things down. For engineered, glued-down floors with squeaking boards or loose popping sounds, inquire about the Bruce Adhesive Repair Kit at your local retailer. Avoid excessive exposure to water from tracking during periods of inclement weather, Do not obstruct the expansion joints around the perimeter of your floors.

Refurbishing Scratched Areas
Scratches on Dura-Satin floor can be easily refurbished by using a Bruce Touch-Up Kit that blends with your factory stained floor color.